The timeline for India’s tour of Sri Lanka has now been revealed in a major development ahead of the international season. According to reports, India will travel to Sri Lanka in August for a two-match Test series as part of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle.
The Shubman Gill-led Indian side does not have a heavy Test schedule this year. After hosting Afghanistan in a one-off non-WTC Test following IPL 2026, India are set to play only two overseas Test series in 2026. The first will be against Sri Lanka in August, followed by a tour of New Zealand later in November.
As per reports, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and the BCCI have already finalised a two-week window between August 15 and August 27 for the Test series. The matches will begin soon after the Lanka Premier League (LPL) ends on August 9.
The LPL 2026 final is scheduled for August 8, with August 9 kept as the reserve day. This schedule gives enough gap for Sri Lanka to prepare for the Test series against India immediately after the tournament.
India Tour Of Sri Lanka 2026 – Tentative Schedule
| Event | Details | Tentative Date |
|---|---|---|
| Lanka Premier League Final | LPL 2026 Final | August 8 |
| Reserve Day | LPL Final Reserve Day | August 9 |
| India Tour of Sri Lanka Begins | Start of India’s Test tour | August 15 |
| 1st Test | India vs Sri Lanka | Mid-August |
| 2nd Test | India vs Sri Lanka | Late August |
| India Tour Ends | End of Test series | August 27 |
| Proposed T20I Series | 3 T20Is (Not confirmed yet) | Yet to be decided |
Reports also suggest that all important stakeholders, including the Indian team management, have already been informed about the tentative dates for the series. However, the official schedule is still expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
While the Test series looks confirmed, there is still uncertainty around the proposed T20I matches between the two teams. Earlier, three T20Is were planned as fundraiser matches for victims affected by Cyclone Ditwah last year.
However, fitting these matches into India’s busy white-ball calendar is proving difficult for the BCCI. India already have multiple limited-overs commitments lined up during September and October.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia is currently in Sri Lanka as part of an ICC delegation. His visit comes after the Sri Lankan government dissolved the current Sri Lanka Cricket administration and appointed an interim Transformation Committee.
During this visit, discussions regarding the additional T20I matches could take place. But as of now, no final decision has been taken regarding whether the T20I series will happen or not.
India’s packed schedule after the Sri Lanka tour is one of the main reasons behind the uncertainty. The Indian team is expected to travel to Bangladesh in September for a six-match white-ball series consisting of ODIs and T20Is.
Apart from the Bangladesh series, India are also likely to play three T20Is against Afghanistan in the UAE during September. The Asian Games window and a home white-ball series against West Indies later in the year are also part of India’s crowded calendar, making scheduling a major challenge for the BCCI.